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Devil's Creek

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Devil's Creek by Todd Keisling is a horror novel that delves into the dark themes of religion, cults, and the consequences of small-town beliefs. The story follows the town of Stauford, Kentucky, where a secluded religious cult once worshipped an evil God underground. As the past of the cult resurfaces, the characters, including the Stauford Six who suffered under the cult leader Jacob Masters, must confront the trauma and evil that threatens to engulf the town once again. The writing style of the book is described as detailed and immersive, drawing readers into the eerie atmosphere of the story with vivid descriptions and impactful scenes.

Characters:

Characters are richly developed, facing intricate personal struggles, with a compelling antagonist representing deep-rooted malevolence.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a rich, immersive detail that captivates readers, balancing lyrical prose with graphic horror elements.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot delves into childhood trauma from a cult, exploring how it shapes adult lives while inflicting horror on a small town.

Setting:

The setting is a small Kentucky town, integral to the narrative, depicted with vivid details that enhance the horror experience.

Pacing:

Pacing varies, starting strong but slowing to explore character depth, maintaining reader engagement without excessive lulls.
The sun hung low along the western horizon, painting the forest with fractured orange flames, and Imogene Tremly knew in her heart the minister would be dead before it rose again. She’d prayed for thi...

Notes:

The story revolves around the Stauford Six, children of a cruel father involved in a cult.
The narrative combines elements of horror, religion, and trauma.
The setting is a small town in Kentucky, which plays a significant role in the story.
Todd Keisling's writing is praised for its detailed and immersive descriptions.
Readers found the pacing to be inconsistent, starting strong but slowing down as the story progressed.
The book explores the impact of childhood trauma on adult lives.
Characters are well-developed, with complex relationships and personal struggles.
The antagonist Jacob Masters is depicted as a chilling and cruel figure.
Themes include the dangers of religious fanaticism and the dark side of small-town culture.
There are graphic and disturbing scenes that deeply affect readers' experiences.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high content warnings due to graphic violence, themes of childhood trauma, and disturbing imagery.

From The Publisher:

About fifteen miles west of Stauford, Kentucky lies Devil's Creek. According to local legend, there used to be a church out there, home to the Lord's Church of Holy Voices-a death cult where Jacob Masters preached the gospel of a nameless god.

And like most legends, there's truth buried among the roots and bones.

In 1983, the church burned to the ground following a mass suicide. Among the survivors were Jacob's six children and their grandparents, who banded together to defy their former minister. Dubbed the "Stauford Six," these children grew up amid scrutiny and ridicule, but their infamy has faded over the last thirty years.

Now their ordeal is all but forgotten, and Jacob Masters is nothing more than a scary story told around campfires.

For Jack Tremly, one of the Six, memories of that fateful night have fueled a successful art career-and a lifetime of nightmares. When his grandmother Imogene dies, Jack returns to Stauford to settle her estate. What he finds waiting for him are secrets Imogene kept in his youth, secrets about his father and the church. Secrets that can no longer stay buried.

The roots of Jacob's buried god run deep, and within the heart of Devil's Creek, something is beginning to stir…

Ratings (3)

Loved It (2)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (13):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (9)
Not Interested (1)

1 comment(s)

Loved It
1 week

Been bad about writing reviews lately or very late at least. This was one of the best cultist horror I've read and it was definitely creepy at parts.

 
 
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